Bottle transfer coupling device

ABSTRACT

A device for transferring viscous fluids, such as catsup, from one bottle to another wherein an expansion chamber is provided between the pouring spouts of the bottles to enhance the downward flow of catsup by relieving the central portions thereof to permit air displaced from the lower bottle to bubble up through the flowing catsup into the upper bottle.

References Cited [72} inventor Wendell Seablom 3712 Texas Drive, SantaRosa, Calif. 95405 4 m6 3 l/ H4 4 5 mm T NW N "H E mm T u" A mm P u S mmm 38 AQ flrH dc mM E n46 N66 Uww I100 23 73 ,5 66 S6 33 an U 9, mu S v 0o 8MN o. d N. m d we .13 APP 2 224 Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell. Jr.Atmmey- Flehr, Hohhach, Test, Albritton & Herbert [54] BOTTLE TRANSFERCOUPLING DEVICE 4 Claim-5'6 Drawing 1 ABSTRACT: A device fortransferring viscous fluids such as catsup, from one bottle to anotherwherein an expansion chamber is provided between the pouring spouts ofthe bottles to enhance the downward flow of catsup by relieving thecentral portions thereof to permit air displaced from the lower bottleto bubble up through the flowing catsup into the upper bottle.

PATENTEUNUV 1s l97l INVENTOR, Wendell Seablom 11 m W Attorneys BO'I'I'LETRANSFER COUPLING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION diments, such ascatsup, in bottles that are less than substantially full. Thus, theymust either throw away the partially emptied bottles or transfer theircontents toother bottles. Time consumed in pouring the catsup from onebottle to another is wasteful and the procedure generally unsightly.

Coupling devices have heretofore been tried for holding one bottle in aninverted position with respect to a second bottle to facilitate thedrainage of viscous fluids from one bottle to the other. Typically,these coupling devices include no provision for escape of air from thebottle being filled. Thus, when the fluid being transferred hascompletely filled the passageway between the two bottles, the remainingair still trapped in the lower bottle prevents the fluid from entering.

Thus, other types of coupling devices have been tried with venting meanswhich pennits the trapped air to escape. With these vented couplings,problems such as clogging and leaking can occur. There is, therefore, aneed for a new and improved bottle transfer coupling device whichquickly and neatly passes viscous fluids, such as catsup, from onebottle into another.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTS The transfer device of the presentinvention provides an expansion chamber formed between the confrontingends of the pouring spouts of two bottles held upright, one above theother, the upper bottle being inverted. This expansion chamberfacilitates and encourages the escape of air from the lower bottle intothe upper bottle and, hence, the flow of fluid from the upper to thelower bottle.

It is, in general, an object of the present invention to provide a newand improved coupling device for holding one bottle in an invertedposition above another bottle for hastening drainage of viscous fluidsfrom the upper bottle to the lower bottle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottle coupling deviceof the above character in which an e expansion chamber is formed tospeed the escape of air from the lower bottle into the upper bottle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottle coupling deviceof the above character which can be easily connected to and disconnectedfrom the pouring spouts of the bottles in a clean and sanitarycondition.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from thefollowing description in which the preferred embodiment is set forth indetail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is an elevational view of a couplingdevice embodying the present invention, showing the manner in which onebottle can be held in an inverted position above another.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken generally along line22 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the coupling device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c illustrate progressively the formation of a bubblein catsup flowing through the coupling device from the upper bottle tothe lower bottle to permit air to pass from the lower bottle into theupper bottle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. I, a coupling deviceembodying the present invention is used to couple bottles and 30. Bottle20 is supported in an inverted position above bottle 30 to permit thecontents of upper bottle 20 to drain into lower bottle 30.

Coupling device I0 comprises in general a body having an upper sleeveportion 11, a lower sleeve portion I2, and an annular rib portion I3.

Sleeve portions I] and 12 are generally cylindrical in shape and areadapted for receiving the pouring spouts or neck portions 23 and 33 ofbottles 20 and 30. Bottles 20 and 30 are illustrated as being similartypes of bottles, so that coupling device 10 is reversible. Thus, eitherof sleeve portions 11 and 12 is suitable for engaging the neck portionof bottles 20, 30. As will be more fully discussed hereinafter, sleeveportions II and 12 include threads forengaging the interrupted threadson bottles 20, 30.

Annular rib 13 extends around the interior of the body intermediate theupper and lower sleeve portions thereof. Rib 13 extends radially intocoupling device I0 far enough whereby the end portions of pouring spouts23, 33 abut the upper and lower surfaces 13a, 13b of rib 13 when thespouts are fully inserted into sleeves I1, 12. Rib 13 does not, however,extend as far inwardly as the projected longitudinal extension of thecylindrical inner surfaces 23a, 33a of spouts 23, 33. In this manner, anannular expansion chamber 16 is formed between the ends of pouringspouts 23, 33 adjacent to annular rib I3. Expansion chamber I6 serves togreatly enhance the flow between bottles 20 and 30, as is discussedfully hereinafter.

Sealing means is provided to prevent leakage of the viscous fluid frombottles 20, 30 when their pouring spouts are connected together bycoupling device I0. Thus, annular rib [3 includes upper and lowersealing surfaces 13a. 13b. respectively, adapted for sealably engagingthe ends of pouring spouts 23, 33 when fully inserted into couplingdevice 10.

For bottles of a type having shoulders, such as 24. 34. the ends ofsleeves ll, 12 are spaced a predetermined distance from the interiorsealing surfaces 13a, 13b so as to abut tightly against the shoulderswhen the pouring spouts are fully inserted into sealed relation withsurfaces I3a, 13b within the coupling device.

Sleeves ll, 12 further include thread means for engaging correspondingthreads on the pouring spouts of the bottles. Preferably, for use withconventional catsup bottles having multiple threads, such as threads 22,32, sleeves II, 12 include a plurality of circumferentially spaced lugsI4 and I5. Lugs l4, 15 extend radially inwardly and correspond in numberto the number of threads 22, 23 of the bottles. Lugs I4, 15 lieproximate the end surfaces of sleeves II, 12 and preferably flushtherewith.

With threads of this type, coupling device 10 can be quickly andsecurely attached to bottles 20 and 30 while forming a dual sealedcondition for each sleeve. A substantially more rigid coupling betweenthe bottles has been observed to result when the coupling device issecured to the bottle with threads. Furthermore, better seals areobtained between the bottle surfaces and the coupling device when theyare drawn tightly together by threads.

Coupling device I0 is preferably fabricated from any suitable tough andsemirigid material, such as plastic, nylon or hard rubber molded as aunitary construction.

Operation and use of the bottle transfer coupling device may now bebriefly described as follows: Let it be assumed that a viscous fluid,such as catsup, is to be transferred from bottle 20 to bottle 30.Pouring spouts 23 and 33 are first inserted into sleeve portions 1 I and12, and the bottles placed in a standing position, with bottle 20inverted above bottle 30. It is then intended that the catsup in bottle20 shall drain downwardly by force of gravity into bottle 30, and whenall of the catsup has been drained from bottle 20, the bottles aredisconnected from coupling device I0, and coupling device 10 is cleanedfor reuse.

It has been observed that annular expansion chamber to greatly enhancesand speeds the transfer of catsup from bottle 20 to bottle 30. Withoutexpansion chamber 16, air cannot readily escape from bottle 30 since thewall of front 40 of the mass of catsup in the bottleneck is difficultfor the lower air to penetrate. particularly when the passageway betweenthe bottles is filled with catsup. Expansion chamber 16, however,encourages air bubbles 42 to form and quickly penetrate through thecatsup front" 40 advancing from bottle to bottle 30, and these bubbles42 permit air displaced from bottle 30 to escape upwardly into bottle20. It has been observed that expansion chamber 16 causes this enhancedfluid transfer by aiding in the development of the upwardly moving airbubbles 42.

Thus, by causing that portion of the catsup 41 crawling or advancingalong the wall surface 23a radially outwardly, thereby relievingpressure in the central portion of the flowing catsup front" or mass 41,the center of the front" 40 shall be weakened and more readilypenetrated by a rising air bubble.

The surface tension in the downwardly flowing catsup mass 41 adhering tothe enlarging wall in the region of the zone of enlargement betweenbottles draws the surface radially outwardly to weaken the center of theadvancing front" 40 of fluid to render it more readily susceptible topenetration by a rising air bubble 42. Thus, the lower air displaced bythe downwardly moving fluid is more easily displaced by virtue of thepresence of the annular chamber 16.

it has further been observed that as annular expansion chamber 16 ismade taller, i.e., as the separation between the confronting ends ofpouring spouts 23 and 33 is made greater, the rate of flow from bottle20 to bottle 30 is correspondingly increased. Likewise, the rate ofbubble formation is increased, indicating that air is moving morerapidly from bottle 30 to bottle 20 to quicken the flow,

Although the bottle transfer coupling of the present invention has beendescribed with particular reference to catsup and catsup bottles, it canalso be used for transferring other viscous fluids between containers.in such other applications, it may be necessary to alter the shape ofthe upper and lower sleeve portions of the device to conform to thepouring spouts of the containers. Further, the annular expansion chamberresiding between the confronting bottle ends conceivably can be formedby means other than those described above. However, the above representsa presently preferred embodiment.

It is apparent from the foregoing that a new and improved bottletransfer coupling device has been provided which hastens the transfer ofhighly viscous fluids between bottles in a manner maintaining dual sealsproviding a neat and tidy bottle top after completing the transfer.

It is further evident that where the pouring spouts are the same, thecoupling becomes interchangeable with either bottle.

I claim:

1. In a coupling device for transferring viscous fluids from a firstbottle having a pouring spout of predetermined internal diameter to asecond bottle of like character, a coupling body construction havingfirst and second sleeve portions adapted for receiving the pouringspouts of the first and second bottles, said sleeve portions beingprovided with means for engaging external threads formed on the pouringspouts of said bottles, and an annular rib portion extending around theinterior of the body between the sleeve portions to provide a limitingabutment for engaging the ends of said pouring spouts and holding saidends a predetermined distance apart, said rib portion having an internaldiameter greater than the internal diameter of said pouring spouts andcooperating with said pouring spouts to form an annular expansionchamber between the ends of said spouts adjacent said rib portion.

2. ln apparatus for transferring a fluid substance from one container toanother, one of said containers being held in a position verticallyabove the other container, the confronting portions of said containersbeing found with openings of predetermined cross-sectional area forpassing the fluid substance, a coupling device including means forengaging the confronting portions of the containers and holding saidconfronting portions a predetermined distance apart, said couplin devicebeing formed to provide an enclosed region interme late the confrontingportions of the containers ll'l communication with the openings therein,said region having a greater cross-sectional area than said openings.

3. In a combination for transferring a viscous fluid from one containerto another, a first bottle having a neck portion of predeterminedinternal diameter, a second bottle of like character, and a couplingdevice comprising a body having upper and lower sleeve portions engagingthe neck portions of said bottles and holding said first bottle in aninverted position above said second bottle with said neck portions invertical registration, each of said sleeve portions being provided witha plurality of circumferentially spaced apart lugs proximate its outerend, said lugs extending radially inward from the internal walls of saidsleeve portions and engaging external threads on the neck portions ofsaid bottles, said coupling device being formed to include an annularrib extending around the interior of said body intermediate the neckportions of the bottles, said rib having a greater internal diameterthan said neck portions and cooperating with the confronting ends ofsaid neck portions to form between said confronting ends a region ofgreater cross-sectional area than the flow passageways form ed by theinternal walls of said neck portions.

4. A coupling device as in claim 1 wherein the means for engagingexternal threads includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apartlugs proximate the outer ends of said sleeve portions, said lugsextending radially inward from the internal walls of said sleeveportions.

i I I I. l

1. In a coupling device for transferring viscous fluids from a first bottle having a pouring spout of predetermined internal diameter to a second bottle of like character, a coupling body construction having first and second sleeve portions adapted for receiving the pouring spouts of the first and second bottles, said sleeve portions being provided with means for engaging external threads formed on the pouring spouts of said bottles, and an annular rib portion extending around the interior of the body between the sleeve portions to provide a limiting abutment for engaging the ends of said pouring spouts and holding said ends a predetermined distance apart, said rib portion having an internal diameter greater than the internal diameter of said pouring spouts and cooperating with said pouring spouts to form an annular expansion chamber between the ends of said spouts adjacent said rib portion.
 2. In apparatus for transferring a fluid substance from one container to another, one of said containers being held in a position vertically above the other container, the confronting portions of said containers being formed with openings of predetermined cross-sectional area for passing the fluid substance, a coupling device including means for engaging the confronting portions of the containers and holding said confronting portions a predetermined distance apart, said coupling device being formed to provide an enclosed region intermediate the confronting portions of the containers in communication with the openings therein, said region having a greater cross-sectional area than said openings.
 3. In a combination for transferring a viscous fluid from one container to another, a first bottle having a neck portion of predetermined internal diameter, a second bottle of like character, and a coupling device comprising a body having upper and lower sleeve portions engaging the neck portions of said bottles and holding said first bottle in an inverted position above said second bottle with said neck portions in vertical registration, each of said sleeve portions being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart lugs proximate its outer end, said lugs extending radially inward from the internal walls of said sleeve portions and engaging external threads on the neck portions of said bottles, said coupling device being formed to include an annular rib extending around the interior of said body intermediate the neck portions of the bottles, said rib having a greater internal diameter than said neck portions and cooperating with the confronting ends of said neck portions to form between said confronting ends a region of greater cross-sectional area than the flow passageways formed by the internal walls of said neck portions.
 4. A coupling device as in claim 1 wherein the means for engaging external threads includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart lugs proximate the outer ends of said sleeve portions, said lugs extending radially inward from the internal walls of said sleeve portions. 